Surfers were seen riding huge waves in Lynmouth as the tail end of Storm Ophelia arrived in Devon.

A weather warning was in place until midnight on Monday for 50mph winds.

(Image: Rob Tibbles)

DevonLive photographer Rob Tibbles said that this was the 50 year storm that the surfers were waiting for.

He said: "I think that the waves must have reached between 12 and 15 foot, expert level only.

"As hurricane Ophelia approached Devon on the 30th anniversary of the great storm a hardy bunch of experienced Devon surfers took to the sea at Lynmouth to test their metal and I am able to say that I was there.

"It may not have rivalled Hawaii but how many local surfers can say they've surfed a hurricane in their own back yard."

(Image: Rob Tibbles)

A weather warning was put in place 12pm until midnight for strong winds in Cornwall and Devon.

World-renowned surfer Andrew Cotton has travelled to the coast of Portugal to ride 60ft high waves today.

He said: “The Magic Seaweed website shows open water swell. The size of the surf will increase due to the strength of the winds which are south westerly blowing the surge inland, but I doubt if it will get to 20ft here because you have got to pretty much halve what the open water swell size is.

(Image: Rob Tibbles)

“The north Devon coast will build along with the wind and surfing spot's that face offshore in a south westerly wind will work, so Lynmouth, Harlyn and St Agnes will be the best places to surf on the north coast.

“But, with this much wind around, it's advised not to enter the water unless you’re an experienced surfer or water user.

“We will get surf down around Sidmouth and all along the English Channel, but again this will be extremely very messy due to the onshore winds. High tide at Exmouth is at 5.11pm and they're quite big tides, so you might get a wash crashing over the sea defences down there, but we’re not on spring tides which are bigger and stronger so damage won't be that bad, if any.

“If there was 20ft of surf hitting Exmouth the town would be seriously flooded along with many other south facing coastal towns.”